Filing apparatus



Jan. 6, 1970 Q S ETAL 3,48,13

FILING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31. 1968 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jam.6,1970 GASSM N ETAL 3,488,100

FILING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F' IG, F

35 Q MOVEME r 01/75 710.

Jan. 6, 1970 Filed Jan. 31, 1968 J. GLASSMAN ET AL FILING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. J

' Jan. 6, 1970' J. IGLASSMAN ET AL 3,488,100

FILING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 51, 1968 United StatesPatent 3,488,100 FILING APPARATUS Joel Glassman, 1709 Graybar Lane,Nashville, Tenn. 37215, and Gilbert F. Jonas, Nashville, Tenn.; saidJonas assignor to said Glassman Filed Jan. 31, 1968, Ser. No. 702,054Int. Cl. A47b 81/00, 63/00; A47f 3/08 US. Cl. 312-223 11 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE An improved filing arrangement includes file storagecompartments, and a non-load bearing storage enclosure, which aremovable relative to each other. The arrangement assures easy andconvenient access to a desired storage compartment, and efficientlyutilizes the available filing floor space.

This invention relates to oflice equipment and, more specifically, toimproved filing apparatus which efficiently utilizes storage space, andwhich facilitates access to desired storage contents.

While much attention has been directed to improving and automatingoffice business equipment such as tabulators, calculators, typewriters,and the like, the significant and costly problem of physically storingbusiness and other records has improved very little of late. The amountof space required to store a given document may be significantly reducedby transforming the information thereon into a microfilm or magnetictape record. However, this transformation process is relativelyexpensive and time consuming, and the resulting records themselves musttypically be stored in a filing cabinet, drawer, or the like, as were(or possibly still are) the original documents.

A close examination reveals that filing drawers in fact suffer fromseveral disadvantages rendering them far from ideal. First, there is aninefficient use of space. To make all papers accessible in a drawer,twice the drawer length plus room for the document retriever must beprovided in expensive floor space. Secondly, vertical space utility islimited to that which can physically be reached and viewed by the user.Without the cumbersome use of a ladder or stool, four feet is themaximum height usable. In a room with eight foot ceilings, half of thevertical space is wasted.

Then also, the physical effort required to pull out filing drawers issubstantial. Girls, who do most of the filing work, find it very tiringto pull and push drawers which often weigh well over fifty pounds whenfully loaded. Even when relatively sophisticated track systems areemployed, considerable force is required to overcome simple inertia. Onepublicized attempt to solve this problem is the tilt drawer. Whilemechanically simpler than the pull-out dra'wer, space requirements arethe same and the mass needed to be moved is greater. Whereas pulldrawers will average half open when used, tilt drawers must be openedfully regardless of the position of the item to be filted or located.

In addition, access to, and selection of a drawer of filed material isbasically a visual and musclar function, and is not readily adaptable toautomatic search. Finally, the position of a person who is doing thefile work is awkward and embarrassing when using any but the topdrawers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improvedfiling apparatus.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to providefiling apparatus which efliciently utilizes floor space, and which iseasily and conveniently operated and readily adapted for automatedsearch.

3,488,100 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 The above and other objects of thepresent invention are realized in an illustrative improved filingarrangement comprising a plurality of contiguous filing units eachincluding a plurality of file compartments defined by parallel verticaldivider plates. Two selectively engageable tambour type doors areadapted to slide on a track about the storage compartments until thedoor junction is in front of a desired compartment as determined via aviewing aperture in one door. The doors, which are nonload bearing, arethen separated to provide access to the desired compartment. If desired,door movement may be electrically automated.

In other embodiments of our invention, differing apparatus is utilizedto similarly provide relative movement between file containingcompartments and non-load bearing door apertures, or the like.

A complete understanding of the present invention, and of the above andother objects, features and advantages thereof will be gained from aconsideration of the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments thereof presented hereinbelow in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE A depicts a first improved filing arrangement embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIGURE B depicts separator members included in the arrangement of FIG.A;

FIGURE C comprises two views of a door portion of the arrangement ofFIG. A;

FIGURE D illustrates electronic apparatus for automating the filingarrangement of FIG. A

FIGURE E depicts a second improved filing arrangement embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIGURE F comprises a file compartment employed in the arrangement ofFIG. E;

FIGURE G illustrates in detail file actuating apparatus employed in thearrangement of FIG. E;

FIGURE H depicts electronic apparatus employed in conjunction with thefiling arrangement of FIG. E;

FIGURE J depicts a plurality of storage compartments and rotationalapparatus employed in the filing arrangement of FIG. K;

FIGURE K illustrates a third improved filing arrangement embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIGURE L depicts a plurality of contiguous filing arrangements of thetype shown in FIG. M; and

FIGURE M illustrates a fourth improved filing arrangement embodying theprinciples of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. A, there is shown two vertically stacked filingunits illustrating the concepts of the present invention. Each filingunit includes left and right rolling flexible doors 1L and 1R whichslide in tracks forming an integral part of each filing cabinet. Fourrollers 2 are employed to facilitate the passage of the doors 1L and 1Raround the cabinet corners. Filed material is located or inserted in thecabinet by selectively sliding the doors 1L and 1R in the mannerdescribed hereinafter.

Each filing cabinet, formed to any desired geometry from standardizedend plates 3 and variable width channels 4, includes a plurality ofvertical divider plates 5 illustrated in FIG. B. Each divider 5 includessemi-circular tabs 6 which fit openings 7 and slots 8 in the cabinetbottom plate. The slots 8 and tabs 6 permit positioning of the dividers5 in any horizontal relationship and density, accommodating the desirednumber and thickness of files 9 between adjacent elemen s. The dividers5 also include index tabs 10 which provide space and visual referencenotes identifying the contents of the associated filing compartment.Half-moon cutouts in the divider walls permit easy grasping of the filecontents.

The left cover IL in each unit includes a vertical member 12 having acutout 11 therein, as illustrated in FIG. C. Also included in thevertical member 12 is a socket 13 which is part of a catch system. Theindex tabs 10 on the dividers are visible through the cutout 11 when thedoors 1L and 1R are closed. On the corresponding vertical bar 12 of theright door 1R is a handle 14 and a push button 15 which selectivelyactuates a catch 16 to engage the socket 13.

To operate the filing arrangement of FIGS. A-C the doors 1L and IR arelatched together and slid left or right until the desired subject indexon the corresponding divider 5 appears in the cutout 11 of the left doormember 12. The button is depressed to release the right door 1R,permitting the doors 1L and IR to be separated to the extent desired.Material can then be inserted or extracted from the exposedcompartment(s).

In the use of the above-described filing arrangement, the only spacerequired is that of the file itself and the person using it. Noadditional space need be provided for drawer pullout or tilting. Sincethe contents are viewed from the front rather than from the top, as isthe case for a conventional drawer, the filing units can be stackedhigher than drawer files.

Moreover, there is no off-center movement of heavy weight, as in drawerfiles, thus eliminating the chance of tip-over and making possiblelighter, less expensive files. Further in this regard, little effort isneeded to use the file. Only the light, flexible doors 1L and IR aremoved, requiring just the slightest pressure. There is no need to move awhole drawer full of papers to get or file one folder.

The small amount of energy needed to gain access to all filed materialreadily facilitates automation. An illustrative electric circuit foraccomplishing this is shown in FIG. D.

A direct current motor 17 is coupled to one of the corner rollers 2 viaa speed reduction gear box 18 to turn this roller, and thereby also theengaged sliding doors 1L and IR. Line voltage is reduced in atransformer 19 and rectified by one of two diodes 20 in a circuitconfiguration which permits motor voltage polarity reversal, via thelast actuated limit transfer switches 21L or 21R. In particular, if theengaged door members 12 move all the way to the left, the limit switch21L reverses current direction and therefore the direction of rotationof the motor 17, the reducer 18, and the roller 2. When the doors 1L andIR then move all the way to the right, the limit switch 21R againchanges door direction.

A dial 22 on the cabinet face turns a disc switch 23 which has one opencontact position 24. Around the disc are a plurality of contactpositions in one-to-one correspondence with the vertical filecompartment dividers 5. also, on the base of each divider 5 is anelectrical contact 25 which brushes a contact 26 on one of the doormembers 12. As long as the contact 26 engages a divider 5 terminal 25not connected to the void disc switch position, the motor 17 isenergized via an activated relay 27. A switch 28 is included in the doorsocket 13 to keep the motor idle until the doors 1L and IR are closed.

To operate the system the dial 22 is rotated such that the switch void24 is positioned to identify the desired divider position, and the doors1L and IR are closed. If the doors are not at the proper position, theywill move left or right depending upon the position of limit switch 21from previous use. The doors 1L and IR will move, right, left or both,until the contact 26 engages the contact 25 on the selected divider 5.Such electric search permits files to be made in great length, occupyinga side of a room if desired. The desired file compartment can bedetermined from an index or otherwise and dialed via the element 22,without any visual reference to the files. The doors 1L and IR willautomatically move to the proper position. In addition to the obviousconvenience, the likelihood of misfiling is greatly reduced.

In contrast to the moving door-fixed divider filing arrangement of FIGS.A-D, FIG. E depicts a second ill st at ve fil g arrang e t emb dy g afixed doormoving divider mechanism. The filing cabinet includes two rowsof filing dividers (compartments) 29, each row including one compartmentless than a full complement. As shown in FIG. F, each compartment 29 isbasically a rectangular sleeve with a supporting stud and roller 30 inthe top center. At the bottom of the compartment 29 is a tray having apull-out tab 31. Further, a door 32 is included in the center front ofthe cabinet for access to the several compartments 29.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. E, the divider compartments 29 are freeto move from right to left in the front; from left to right in the rear;from front to back on the left; and from back to front on the right.More specifically, if a compartment 29a is moved forward and acompartment 29b moved backward coincidentally therewith, then thedivider 29a can move to the left, one position at a time, with all theother front dividers. Similarly, the compartment 29b can be shifted,along with all other rear dividers, towards the right. Theabove-described movement can be effected in a continuous manner, in

effect moving the divider compartments 29' in a rectangular pattern,presenting each file in sequence to the door position.

Apparatus for accomplishing this motion pattern may advantageously beincluded in a tray disposed above the compartment enclosure, as shown inFIG. E, and in more particular detail in FIG. G. The stud and roller 30of each compartment 29 (FIG. F) support the dividers in a groove 33 inthe top tray. The groove 33 forms an island center section which is heldin position by two support brackets 34 on either side thereof. Forpurposes of clarity, only one bracket 34 is shown in FIGS. E and G.

vThe center island supports a continuous cog belt 35 which includesnotches of a half circle configuration. The radius of the notches isadvantageously made the same as that of the divider rollers 30. The cogbelt 35 is positioned by guide rollers 36 and 37, and driven by a motor38 through reduction gears 39 and a sprocket 40. A cog belt positionsensor 41 is turned by a belt and cog system 42 via an idling sprocket43.

The sensor 41 turns about the same axis as a selector thumb wheel 44.The thumb wheel 44 includes a single brush contact 45 and a detent 46(see FIG. H), and is characterized by a number of indentations on theperiphery thereof corresponding to the number of file dividers 29. Thesensor wheel 41 makes one revolution for each complete rectangular looptranslation of the cog belt 35. The wheel 41 includes thereon aconducting circular commutator, in contact with the brush 45, which hasa removed section equivalent to one increment of divider movement withinthe file cabinet.

The electrical movement actuating circuit is shown in H, and includes aswitch 47 which is interlocked With thedoor 32 so that the motor 38 willnot be energized unless the door is closed. When the thumb dial 44 isturned to a number identifying a particular compartment 29, the brush 45makes contact with the commutator on the sensor wheel 41, therebystarting the motor 38. The enabled motor 38 turns the cog belt 35, andthus the belt 42 and the sensor 41, until the void sensor commutatorsegment touches the brush 45 thus stopping the motor.

As the motor 38 runs, it cyclically translates the file compartments 29.In particular, it is observed than there are single belt 35 guidepulleys 36 at a first pair of diagonal island corners while, at theopposite-diagonal corners, there are a pair of guide pulleys 37. Thepulleys 36 and 37 are arranged such that the cog belt 35 comes incontact with the divider rollers 30 at these points simultaneously. Thedual guide pulleys 37 also keep the belt 35 in contact with the dividerrollers 30 for a distance of one compartment space across the front andback of the case. It is also noted that the cog belt 35 disengagesrollers 30 on the file dividers 29 after the dividers 29 pass by theguides 37, and reside in the right-most position in the front row and let-most position in the rear row.

As the motor 38 starts, the divider rollers 30 associated with thecompartments 29a and 29b are in a position to be moved clockwise by thecog belt 35. Under urging of the belt 35, the divider 29b moves fromfront to back at the left and, simultaneously therewith, the compartment29a moves to the front at the right side of the composite filingcabinet.

As the belt 35 and rollers 30 reach the island corner with the two guiderollers 37, the divider 29b is moved one space to the right in the rearrow, and the divider 29a moves one space to the left in the front row.As these two dividers move across, they push the other elements 29 aheadof them until the front one in each row, associated with the rollers 30cand 30d in FIG. G, assume the positions formerly occupied by thedividers 29a and 29b. The cog belt 35 disengages the dividers 29a and29b when the rollers 30 thereof reach the positions 30c and 30 of FIG.G.

The above-described motion continues until the commutator on the sensor41, turned by the belt 42, has its open segment aligned with the brush45. The motor 38 then stops, and the desired file compartment 29 isbehind the door 32. Opening the door 32 gives access to the divider traytab 31 which may be pulled to bring forward the filed material.

Accordingly, the above-described filing arrangement of FIGS. E-H can beof any desired length. Also, a plurality of such units can be stacked ashigh as can be reached.

A third illustrative improved filing arrangement which also embodies theprinciples of moving divider compartments is shown in FIG. K, with thedivider and divider conveying apparatus being more particularlyillustrated in FIG. J. In this arrangement, a plurality of rectangulardivider sleeves 48 are hung on cog belt supported pivot bars 49.

A selection dial 50 is mounted on the file cabinet, and operates likethe element 44 of FIGS. E, G and H. In brief, a commutator (not shown)including a void position is driven by the cog belt 51, and makes onecomplete revolution with each complete revolution of the belt. A drivemotor 52 is mounted on top of the filing apparatus, and the motoractuating circuit is the same as that shown in FIG. H for the filingembodiment of FIGS. E-H. The motor 52 turns the cog belts (one disposedon either side of the support rods 49) via gearing apparatus 55 and 56.Since the sleeve 48 supporting bars 49 travel on a larger radius as theyrotate about support and drive sprockets 53, those dividers 48 changingdirection move further and faster, advancing away from followingdividers thus preventing interference.

As was the case for the embodiment of FIGS. E-H, the sleeve 48identified by the setting of dial 50 in FIG. K will reside behind a door54 when the motor 52 stops. File folders can be removed by simplyopening the door 54, and pulling a tray tab 57. It is observed that thefiling arrangement of FIGS. J-K can extend from floor to ceiling. Manysuch organizations can occupy a small wall space, yielding maximumstorage capacity in minimum space with easy and rapid access.

The vertical divider translating filing arrangement of FIGS. J-K neednot be motorized, nor is such an arrangement restricted to legal orletter size shape or space. The dividers 48 can be sized to accommodateengineering drawings, punch cards, microfilm cartridges, aperture cardsor the like, this size variance feature also accruing to the otherfiling embodiments herein.

A non-motorized vertical divider translating filing arrangement sizedfor microfilm cartridges is depicted in FIG. L, with the details of aparticular vertical unit being more particularly shown in FIG. M. Acarriage 50 is mounted for vertical translation inside a vertical cabineunit, with the carriage 50 being one-half the height of the cabinet.Behind the carriage 50 is a counterweight 59 which counter balances thecarriage and its contents acting through pulleys 60 and a cable 61.

The carriage 50 is divided into levels, spaced a sufiicient distanceapart to accommodate a single tape cartridge. Each level is equippedwith a pullout tray 62 having a U- shaped knob 64 in front thereof whichis adapted to vertically translate through a slot 63 running from top tobottom in the file cabinet. Integral with the knobs 64 are pullout rings65, and the knobs may have number or other identifying charactersthereon.

At the midpoint of the file cabinet is a spring biased door 66 havingthe same vertical dimension as one carriage storage level. To operatethe file, the desired storage level is identified, as by referring to anindex. The carriage 58 containing the material is moved up or down bypressure applied to the appropriate U knob 64. When the tray is in linewith the door 66, the tray is pulled forward, opening the door andexposing the file content.

While the manually operated file of FIGS. L and M has material stored inonly half its volume, the additional half, providing movement space,typically comprises space which is awkward to otherwise use, and whichwould likely be lost. Hence, there is no real penalty. Gained instead israpid and effortless file access. Moreover, the embodiment of FIGS. Land M can be automated in the manner described above, and a fullcomplement of storage levels employed.

'It is to be understood that the above-described improved filingembodiments are only illustrative of the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous other arrangements and modifications thereof will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a filing arrangement, divider means for storingmaterial, said divider means defining a plurality of distinct storagelocations, cover means including door means for accessing one of saidstorage locations, means for mounting said cover means about saiddivider means, said mounting means including means for permittingrelative translation between said cover means and said divider means,said divider means including a plurality of parallel divider members,said cover means including two selectively engagea'ble rolling flexibledoors mounted in tracks for rotation about said divider members, rollermeans for facilitating the rotation of said cover about said dividermembers, automated access means including motor means for rotating saidcover means, means for sensing the position of said cover relative tosaid divider members, and means for de-energizing said motor when thejunction of said doors is positioned by the desired one of said dividermeans.

2. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said position sensing meansincludes an electrical contact on each of said divider members, and acontact in sliding engagement therewith mounted on said cover means, andwherein said motor de-energizing means includescommutating means with anadjustable void location corresponding to the desired one of saiddivider members.

3. A combination as in claim 2 further comprising visual means mountedon said divider members, a cutaway viewing aperture included in saidcover means, latching means for selectively engaging said doors, and amotor de-energizing switch interlocked with said latching means.

4. In combination in a filing arrangement, divider means for storingmaterial, said divider means defining a plurality of distinct storagelocations, cover means including door means for accessing one of saidstorage locations, means for mounting said cover means about saiddivider means, said mounting means including means for permittingrelative translation between said cover means and said divider means,said cover means comprising a filing enclosure having a door therein,wherein said divider means includes a plurality of divider compartments,wherein said mounting means includes means for mounting each of saidcompartments for translation through a closed path which includes anexcursion past said enclosure door, and selectively energized means fortranslating said compartments through said closed path.

5. A combination as in claim 4 wherein said divider compartments eachinclude a roller and stud portion, and wherein said mounting meansincludes means having a groove therein to define said closed path, saidroller and stud portion of said compartments passing through saidgroove.

6. A combination as in claim 5 further comprising a cog belt forselectively engaging said compartment roller and stud portion, and amotor and sprocket for selectively driving said cog belt.

7. A combination as in claim 6 further comprising means for sensing theposition of said compartments, means for selecting a desiredcompartment, and means for de-energizing said cog belt driving motorwhen the desired compartment is positioned by said door.

8. A combination as in claim 7 wherein said position sensing meanscomprises a commutator coupled to said cog belt, said commutatorincluding a void portion, and wherein said motor de-energizing meansincludes a contact connected to said commutator.

9. A combination as in claim 4 wherein said compartment mounting andtranslating means includes cog belt means, and rod means for supportingsaid compartments, said rod means being affixed to said cog belt means,and motor means for driving said belt means.

10. In combination in a filing arrangement, divider means for storingmaterial, said divider means defining a plurality of distinct storagelocations, cover means including door means for accessing one of saidstorage locations, means for mounting said cover means about saiddivider means, said mounting means including means for permittingrelative translation between said cover means and said divider means,said cover means comprising a plane having a slot therein, and whereinsaid divider means comprises a carriage including a plurality ofcompartments therein, each of said carriage compartments including atray therein, said trayseach including a knob thereon adapted totranslate through said vertical slot in said cover, said coveralsoincluding a door. of a size corresponding to the size of each ofsaid'carriage compartments.

11. A combination as in claim 10 wherein'said carriage is substantiallyone-half the size of said cover, and further comprising means forcounterbalancing said carriage.

References Cited v UNITED STATES PATENTS CASMIR A. NUNBERG, PrimaryExaminer US. 01. X.R. 312 1s3, 266

